Chapter Text
The portal opens.
It illuminates the entire crowd in a warm glow, bringing more comfort than any of them have been able to feel in ages.
Master Leonardo just watched his brother die. He literally turned into sparkles right in front of him.
He turns away for a moment. Pain. Sorrow. He still lost him after all this time. The little sunshine of all of them.
But then he turns back to the portal. A smile on his face. Pride. Determination. Mikey made this. Literally his magnum opus right there. It's so beautiful, like anything he has made.
He sacrificed himself for this. It's his entire being. And it's oddly fitting. Mikey, Out of all of them, would be the last hope. He didn't just hold it. He didn't just make it. He is it. The sun. The little spark in the darkness finally turned into a blaze. It may have burnt out the candle but it's oh so beautiful.
Of all the gruesome ways he could have met his end, Leonardo is happy it's this one. Going out with a bang and leaving them a second chance to lead a better life. All of them. Mikey might just save the world. And he is more than happy to give this to his little brother.
Now it's on him to not waste this hope that Mikey has manifested. It's his task to prevent any of this from happening. He's going to stop this at the source and he'll be damned if he fails.
The resistance leader grips his sword at the hilt. It's a steady weight against his hip and the masks on it a constant reminder. He's not going to let them down. Not again. And he strengthens that promise with his first step towards the portal.
As soon as he stands in front of it, he regards it with another gaze. It's just so Mikey. Warm and light. Inviting.
He puts his palm first. An old habit to prevent from walking into walls or similar. There were.. too many instances.
He wonders to which moment it would lead. Did Mikey even have that much control over it to decide a specific moment?
He expects to go through the portal and then be somewhere in the past. That's how portals work. How they always have worked.
There's resistance.
It's like he's touching a smooth, warm wall. A magical wall that shouldn't be a wall. What is going on?
He pushes. Why isn't this working? There's no way his little brother somehow messed this up! He's a mystical, magical warrior damn it! Yes, this definitely is a complicated spell but he's dealt with those before.
And yet, his hand isn't budging. It stays a wall and his panic is rising.
Has Mikey sacrificed himself in vain?!
Meanwhile, the portal opens in the present lair. The first to notice is Michelangelo, who curiously inspects the glowing anomaly. The four brothers gather around the portal, not sure what to think, even less to expect.
Donatello, with his scientific curiosity, gets to work right away trying to figure out what is going on. Portals are nothing new to him, sure, but this one is weirdly different. Why does it feel familiar if it's his first time seeing it?
Raphael, the ever protective brother that he is, rather wants them all to stay back from the portal. What if something dangerous suddenly shoots through it? But then again it is just a portal. They've had experiences with those before. It should be fine, right?
And it was. Until Leonardo decided to 'just take a look' and put his hand onto the beaming surface of the portal.
Suddenly Leo is gone, just to emerge again. It's just that... Now he's different. The Leo that tumbled to the ground before them is much taller. Older even. Covered in scars and.... what happened to his right arm?!
On the other side of the portal, Leo looks up to see a giant group of people gazing down at him. Shock stopping even the air dead in its tracks. They are in a giant bunker of sorts. The light is dim and irregular, as if many lights are broken and have yet to be fixed. Still, he can make out the confused faces of the people standing right in front of him. You could hear a pin drop and that makes Leo incredibly uncomfortable. He can feel some sort of pressure engulfing him.
"uuuuhhhh did I crash some sort of party?' he asks in an attempt to lift the tension as he gets up. "Listen, I'm sorry about that but you really need to work on your party planning. The atmosphere is dead enough that people might think the world is ending"
That didn't seem to help... Everything stays silent. Unmoving. The only things that move are the faces showing even more confusion.
What is happening? Everyone loves his jokes! How is not even a single person in the entire crowd snickering?
Actually, his attempt at a funny hyperbole seems to have dampened the mood further... If that is even possible. That is the exact opposite reaction to a joke!
While Leo usually basks in the limelight that is a crowds attention, he is starting to get seriously creeped out. Well, either this is creepy or concerning. Both probably. A crowd with no humor? No wonder their party didn't take off.
"You know what? I think I'll just leave you to it." he starts to slowly back up to the portal. The thing he knows is the gateway straight home.
Away from these people acting like they have never seen a mutant teenager in their lives - which would be weird because half the people here are yokai -, and back among his brothers, his family.
"My brother is actually the party dude. He could help you out if you want. He can do everything from the music to catering. He's available on weekends, ten a.m. to eight p.m. Pricing can be negotiated in person. You should really consider it, he's great!" he isn't sure if his ramblings are supposed to distract them from him, or himself from the nagging feeling of wrongness that keeps growing every second he stays.
Finally, he reaches the portal. It felt like ages, but he can feel its warmth on his shell and see its golden glow in his peripheral vision.
These people don't seem hostile towards him, but he isn't going to find out how long it would stay that way. Nope. Time to dip.
Still facing the crowd, he puts a hand on the portal behind him.
Weird. He can feel resistance.
Maybe it takes some time?
Suddenly, he detects movement among the numerous people. To his right, a teenager breaks away from the frozen statues. The kid wears a mask on his head. It's currently moved above his face, revealing incredulous and anxious eyes. Actually, it may be closer to panic. Sight focused on the turtle mutant but darting all over him.
The kid is walking towards Leo and he isn't sure if he likes that. Actually, screw that. He doesn't like that. And so he presses further into the portal. Hoping for Pizza Supreme above to let him leave this place.
And it seems like they listened to him as he falls back. He let's out a gargled noise before his shell hits concrete.
Hoping to see the familiar ceiling of his home and maybe atleast one of his brothers looking down at him in confusion, he opens his eyes again.
Just to see that he is still in front of the crowd. The portal gone.
Embarrassing.
Looks like the Pizza Supreme want to see him suffer.
His fall has snapped everyone out of their bad staring habit atleast. They're now looking at eachother.
The teenager has made his way closer to Leo while he was distracted. He had shouted something when he fell. Was it Sensei? Why would anyone call him Sensei? The thought would have gotten a chuckle from Leo if he wasn't stuck who-knows-where. It wouldn't be a problem if he had his swords....
Oh no. No no no no no.
He doesn't have his swords. He put down his twin Katana before the portal opened and then just fell through. What is he going to do now? He has no idea where he is. For all he knows he could be on the other side of the earth! Portals are crazy like that!
Okay. Calm down. First, find out where you are. Then you can panic.
Atleast it's not another crazy dimension, telling by the clear existence of humans around. Though, he has never heard about large groups of humans and yokai just coexisting somewhere. It sure is a sight to behold.
"Sensei!"
Leo jolts at the kid shouting next to him. Then he regards him with an narrowed eyes, while leaning away ever so carefully.
"I'm sorry, but you're not acting like yourself and you're freaking me out! Did you hit your head when you first fell?"
What is he going on about? Does he know him?
No, he would definitely remember someone of this get up. He doesn't exactly wear casual clothes.
Also, he would remember another human acquaintance. Especially one that is this caring.
"No, I did not. And who are you to say I'm not acting like myself? I would say I've been doing fairly well for being thrown into an unknown situation in an unknown location without any weapon for self defense." he crosses his arms in front of his plastron.
The kid regards him with another confused and concerned look.
"...Do you really not remember anything?"
What does he mean? Wait, did he hit his head? Is he supposed to know what's going on?
No. Now the guy is just confusing him.
"Well, there's no hole in my memory if that's what you're asking."
Leo sighs. Having attitude won't help in this situation. He should keep it light and straight to the point if he wants to get back home soon. He scratches the back of his neck.
"Listen. I have no idea what you're talking about or who you are, but it would be nice if you told me where I am."
It takes a moment for the boy to reply. Hurt flashes over his face. Then there is this anxious panic rising back up and mixing with it. He glances over at the crowd of people, who have formed little groups, whispering among eachother.
"You're in the hideout."
Hideout? Their hideout? Of the yokai-human group? Is this still in New York? Why do they need a hideout anyways? And why does it look so scuffed? He'd have spiced up the place twenty times over by the end of the week. He and his brothers have done much better than them in even less time.
Leo looks back at the crowd "You're going to have to give me more information than that."
"You don't even remember the hideout?!"
This kid isn't very helpful. Whoever he thinks he is, he must know quite a bit about this place. Actually, the guy must be very knowledgeable if the kid's disbelief is anything to go off of. That gives him an idea.
He puts his attention back to the boy who seriously looks like he may have a panic attack any second now. His fast breathing sure Isn't a good sign.
"Why don't you try and help my mind? Y'know, tell me what's going on and where I am and stuff. Maybe it'll help me remember."
That seems to calm the boy slightly. He takes a deep breath.
"Right, something like CST. Of course. Uh."
Leo can tell his mind is going a thousand thoughts per minute right now. It unnerves him how worried everybody is upon seeing him. Of course, you'd be worried if someone you knew changed and suddenly had amnesia. But this much? Also how are they so sure he's the same guy?
"I don't even know where to start. What do you remember?"
"Dude, I don't know. One second I was home and the next I tumbled through that portal" he shrugs.
"Home?"
"Uhh yeah? The place where you live? Where you return to everyday?"
An exasperated sigh "Can you describe it?"
"I'm sorry, but I'm not going to tell you where I live. I don't think we're that close, chico."
That makes him pause with that expression of pain again. He must be close with this dude.
"Does the name Casey say something?" his voice is shaking lightly.
"Hmm.. Mikey always calls Cass Casey." do they know Cass maybe? Would be fitting enough. She would know both humans and yokai. Not sure why they would set all this up though. But this means he is still in New York.
"Mik-.... 'Cass'?"
Is he confused about the nickname? "yeah! Cassandra. Mikey always calls her Casey but I'm not so sure where he got that from. That's why I rather use Cass."
"Cassandra..." now he has an incredulous look on his face.
"Yes. Y'know, energetic and loud. Loves to fight."
"No no, I'm Casey!" he says as he stands up and points at himself. Then he starts pacing back and forth and muttering "if Sensei doesn't even remember me then this is bad. Really bad.."
Okay, so they don't know Cassandra. Back to square one.
Leo stands up aswell and dusts himself off. Tired of being looked down upon by the glances he keeps getting.
He takes the time to get a better look at the hall room, now that the crowd isn't as dense anymore. It looks like the middle is commonly kept empty and spacious. Though there are plenty of benches that were obviously pushed to the walls.
Also lining the walls is various equipment of all kinds of uses. Leo can see some first aid kits and dishes strewn about on tables that have seen better days. Crates are filling corners and there are even blankets here and there.
One wall has a big opening that presumably leads to the hallway to the rest of this place. Opposite that is a wall that is completely sectioned off into what looks like a makeshift kitchen.
Casey wasn't kidding when he called this a hideout. It may aswell be one of those shelters you see in disaster movies. Even the people look like it. All scuffed up. Wearing old, tattered clothes in multiple layers. They even have that hopeless, sad, melancholic look on their faces.
Taking all this in, it's pretty concerning. Is there something happening he hasn't heard about?
But there's no way he or his brothers wouldn't have noticed something that would cause a situation like this. Donnie has eyes and ears everywhere.
"Okay. Does the word 'Kraang' ring a bell?" Casey finally questions. There's exhaustion washing over his face.
"uh, Gesundheit?"
"You don't remember the Kraang?!" he raises his voice in disbelief. Then immediately shrinks when people look at him in alarm.
Leo isn't sure what to tell him.
"Sorry. It's just- I don't know what to do. It's kind of alot to take in if I just tell you everything." he ruffles his hair.
The slider can clearly see how the words 'what do I do?' repeat themselves rapidly in this kid's head.
Maybe Leo should help him calm down. It's not going to help anyone if he breaks down right now. Why isn't anyone in his group helping him out in a situation like this?
"Hey, deep breaths! In and out. We'll figure this out." his hands hovering over the boy.
Commotion arises from the hallway and someone runs in "Squad A has returned from their mission!"
People start moving and running about. Even Casey suddenly lights up "wait here. Do not move from this spot. I won't be long." and runs out, following everyone else that ran out.
Ooookay... the slider thinks and decides to play along. His only exit is the way the boy disappeared in, so no dice. He could just go and cause chaos. He's good at that and maybe that would reveal a way out of this place. But even he can tell that he's in an unpredictable situation and that pissing these people off could go very badly. Especially without a weapon.
Leo watches as remaining yokai move the benches back to what he assumes is their original spots. Even a few tables are moved to form sitting groups with the benches.
It's not like he wouldn't help them but it also feels like he'd be intruding by doing so.
So he instead chooses an attempt to piece together the information he has gotten so far.
These people think he's someone they know. Someone from their midst that is pretty important. Still, he apparently has something different to him causing everyone to freak out. This person also seems to be close to the kid, Casey.
He's currently in their hideout that gives the vibes of 'organized war bunker' including the people inside.
The person they think he is knows something about 'Kraang' and that it - whatever it is supposed to be - is 'too much to take in' to just explain.
Not much to go off of. The best Leo can do at the moment is that this is some sort of major gang clash or something.
"-pretty on edge himself!" Leo can hear Casey's voice echo from the hallway along with the sounds of two sets of footsteps. One heavy and steady, the other lighter and faster.
"I'll be the judge of that." an oddly familiar female voice responds. As his gaze follows the source it isn't the only oddly familiar thing about the person.
She spots him. First disbelief and a look of sadness wash over her face. Then it takes a one eighty and it darkens when she starts marching towards him.
That look on that face has always been a cause for mild terror to bubble up inside of him. At those times he knew he messed up and deserved whatever consequences she deemed fit.
When she finally stands in front of him she just stares him down at first. Literally. She's so much taller somehow.
Then she suddenly grabs his sash with a fist and pulls him towards her "What the hell were you thinking?!"
Casey, standing off towards the side, raises his hands in alarm as to help Leo out of her grip but ultimately does nothing.
"... April?"
Confusion returns to her face as she continues to stare him down. Then realization.
She let's him go.
Leo chuckles "This must be a very realistic dream. Or maybe something happened on that last mission we went on that makes me hallucinate, because there's no other way to explain you suddenly being this old" Maybe he's finally losing it.
"I thought Case was misinterpreting things, but you really don't remember, do you?" a serious tone lacing her voice.
"There's alot of things you don't remember in a dream, April." he deadpans lightheartedly.
"Leo, this isn't a dream." she sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Is exactly what people in a dream would say if you told them it was a dream!" he concludes proudly, crossing his arms in front of his plastron. nailed it.
Suddenly he is grabbed violently by his upper arms. He stiffens.
"Leo this is serious!" she lets him go "Ugh I don't have the energy for this! All this just because you two dumb-dumbs must be idiotic idiots!"
What is she talking about?
"Who is the other dumb-dumb? I'm gonna need allies." Leo responds airily.
She let's out a strangled noise "You're still not taking this seriously."
"How am I supposed to take this seriously when you say stuff like 'idiotic idiots'?" he snickers.
"It's a habit I developed years ago and you little pipsqueak don't get to make fun of it."
"Yeah, I'm sure you won't do it yourself after I wake up. I bet you'll freak out when-"
He's interrupted by a hand slapping him across the face and he realizes he isn't dreaming when pain blooms in his cheek. He just stands there frozen for a second.
Casey has a sour look on his face and scrunches up his whole body, showing that he knows just how much this must be hurting.
"Pretty painful dream, huh?" now it's her turn to cross her arms.
Leo puts his hand on his hurting cheek "Alright. It's not a dream. Buuuut it doesn't rule out some mystic mind-go-crazy magic." his hand moves to his chin "though this is a weird choice for a hallucination.."
"Are you kid-" she takes a deep breath.
A really deep breath.
Then she grabs him by his upper arms again and makes sure to have eye contact "Listen! This is not a dream nor a hallucination nor anything. This is the sad, sobering reality, Leo."
"What do you mean? .." Her intense tone is starting to spook him.
This is where Casey decides to chime in "Commander April, he doesn't remember the Kraang."
"Right. Come on, you have to sit down for this one. We'll have to speed run this." she pushes Leo towards a bench that's still lining the wall.
"Is this really a good idea?"
"Case, we don't have the time to baby him."